Just in time for spring break, there are two local parks with new play equipment ("tot-lots") that should be opening this Friday, April 5, 2013: Carmel Grove Park, located at the corner of Carmel Creek Road and Carmel Grove Road (just behind Piazza Carmel), and Del Mar Trails Park, located on Del Mar Trails Road between Mona Lisa and Mercurio. On the other hand, the Winwood Park playground, located on Carmel Creek Road just south of Carmel Creek Elementary, will close on April 8 for a renovation that should complete late this summer. So, we gain two brand new playgrounds but lose one for a while.

There will be a Guided Tour of Gonzales Canyon on Saturday, April 6, 9:00am-11:00am. Come and learn about canyon plants and wildlife! Sponsored by the City of San Diego. The tour requires intermediate hiking ability (steep hills, uneven surfaces, narrow trails). Wear sturdy shoes, bring sunscreen and water. Cancelled in the event of rain. Meet in front of Torrey Highlands Dog Park, off Lansdale (behind Torrey Pines HS.) Parking is limited. Location Link: http://goo.gl/maps/Ji50q. FOR MORE INFO: tstuhr@sandiego.gov or carmelvalleycanyon@yahoo.com .

April’s free family music program sponsored by the Friends of the Carmel Valley Library will be presented on Wednesday, April 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the library’s community room. It will feature piano duets of jazz and Broadway music by the Pizarro Brothers. The program will last 45 minutes. A second, special free family music program sponsored by the Friends of the Carmel Valley Library will be presented on Wednesday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the library’s community room. It will feature pianist Oksana Germain performing works of Scarlatti, Debussy, Brahms and Prokofiev. The program will last 45 minutes. For further information call (858) 552-1668. For more information, see the CV Library Music Page, call the CV Library at (858) 552-1668 or see the Friends of the Carmel Valley Library website at www.carmelvalleylibrary.org.

How about an Easter Church service that's fun for the whole family? You’re invited to Easter at C3 San Diego - Food, pony rides, petting zoo, egg hunts, game truck, bounce houses, rides, the Easter bunny and more. Join them on March 31st at 10am for a phenomenal worship experience, impacting media, and live message. At the Carmel Valley Middle School, 3800 Mykonos Lane, San Diego CA 92130. For more information visit www.c3sandiego.com, or see their Easter Service Page.

The race for the CV Planning Board seat for Neighborhood 5, pictured here, features the incumbent Debbie Lokanc running against newcommer and One Paseo supporter Elissa Krasenbaum. This neighborhood is the residential area bounded by Carmel Creek Road, Carmel Country Road and SR-56 (the area around Carmel Del Mar Elementary School.) I don't personally like One Paseo, so I would recommend voting for the Incumbent, Debbie Lokanc. The election is Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 5:00 to 5:30 PM at the CV Library, 3919 Townsgate Drive. Note: Only residents of the neighborhood may vote, bring proof of residency (driver's licence, utility bill, etc.) Multiple residents from the same address may vote, as long as you're 18 or older.

There are two new restaurants opening in the area: Royal India has replaced the old Star of India in Piazza Carmel (Click here for the story, & click here for the restaurant website), and Snooze Del Mar will be replacing the iHop in the Town Center (Click here for the story, restaurant website not yet available.) You'll know Royal India from their downtown location, and Snooze has another branch in Hillcrest.

The CV Planning Board will hear more information on the proposed One Paseo development this Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at the Ocean Air Elementary School, 11444 Canter Heights Drive, San Diego, CA 92130 (NOTE: Special time AND location!) This meeting will focus exclusively on traffic impacts.

The CV Planning Board Election will be held at the CV Library on March 28, 2013 from 5:00 to 5:30 PM (on the Patio of the Library, located at 3919 Townsgate Dr., San Diego, CA.) The only contested seat is the Neighborhood 5 seat, where Resident Elissa Krasenbaum is challenging the Incumbent Debbie Lokanc. Here is a Neighborhood 5 map:

Where the boundaries are Carmel Creek Road, Carmel Country Road, and SR-56 (the area around Carmel Del Mar Elementary School.) Only residents of a neighborhood may vote for the neighborhood candidate. An individual voting for a Neighborhood candidate will be required to show proof of residency in that Neighborhood (driver's licence, utility bill, etc.)

There are other seats up for election, but none are contested. Note that an individual voting for a Business or Investor candidate will be required to show written permission from the local business or property owner to act as their designee. A business owner or investor must also show proof of business activity or ownership of property with the Carmel Valley Planning Area.

The 2013 Spring Program for the Carmel Valley Recreation Center is now available, complete with online program registration details. Register Online at the SD City Online Registration Portal (www.SDRecConnect.com). Registration instructions are in the brochure at the top of page 8, with class registration already underway. Note that online registration requires you to create an online account. If you have questions, or if you'd rather deal with a person, you can also register in-person at the CV Rec Center. For additional information, read the brochure or call the Rec Center at 858-552-1616.

The Gonzales Canyon Park committee meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7:00pm has bee moved to the Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate Drive, San Diego, CA 92130. Sorry for any inconvenience. This park is in Pacific Highlands Ranch (PHR) to our east (out near Canyon Crest Academy (CCA), at the end of Del Mar Heights Road.) There will be 2 committee meetings on this park: the meeting on March 21, and another on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 7:00pm (probably also at the CV Rec Center.)

The Torrey Hills Spring Egg Hunt is on Saturday March 30, 2013, 9-12PM, at the Torrey Hills Community Park (4262 Calle Mejillones). There will be Bounce Houses, Music, Face Paint, Games, and Activities! The Egg Hunt Times are: 0-2yrs at 9:30AM; 3-5yrs at 9:40AM; 6-8yrs at 9:50AM; 9 & up at 10AM. There will also be a Scavenger Hunt for kids ages 10 & UP. PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME AND BRING YOUR OWN BASKET. This Free Event is sponsored by the Ocean Air Recreation Council and the Torrey Hills HOA. See the Torrey Hills Egg Hunt Flyer for details.

March's free family music program will be presented on Wednesday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the library's community room. It will feature mandolinist Chris Acquavella, harpsichordist Ruben Valenzuela, and soprano Anne-Marie Dicce in music by Beethoven, Scarlatti, Mozart, and Kioulaphides. A second March concert will be presented on Saturday, March 30 at 12:30 p.m. in the library's community room. It will feature several talented students of California Institute of Music (CIM) Professors Michael and Irina Tseitlin. They include violinists Nathan Gendler, Harold Reeves, Annelle Gregory, Jasmine Wang, Kalvin Hibi, Hailey Schricker, and Shirley Wu, cellists Paul Maxwell and Megan Wu, and pianists Shirley Wu and Stephen Ai. They will play music by Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski, Shostakovich, Kreisler, J S Bach, Vieuxtemps, and Ravel. The Library is located at 3919 Townsgate Drive in Carmel Valley. For further information call (858) 552-1668. For more information, see the CV Library Music Page, call the CV Library at (858) 552-1668 or see the Friends of the Carmel Valley Library website at www.carmelvalleylibrary.org.

It looks like some of the Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) teachers are offering a Digital Art Workshop for Adults! The class is on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 5:30 PM. From the Facebook Events Page: "Did you ever wish you could learn what your kids are learning at school? Here is the chance to get some high tech training in the arts by talented CCA teachers, Julie Rais and Rachel Edwards. For just $30, they will help unlock the mysteries of digital art. Contact rachel.edwards@sduhsd.net for more information and to sign up." The workshop will be at 5951 Village Center Loop Road, San Diego, 92130

Here are the documents from the Gonzales Canyon Park introduction at the CV Rec Council on March 5, 2013. This park is in Pacific Highlands Ranch (PHR) to our east (out near Canyon Crest Academy (CCA), at the end of Del Mar Heights Road.) The plan is for the park to be completed by the end of 2014.

There will be 2 committee meetings on this park: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7:00pm at the Pardee Offices in PHR, 6025 Edgewood Bend Court, San Diego, CA 92130 (behind CCA, near the fire station); and Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 7:00pm at the same location. Here's the March 21 Gonzalez Canyon Park Meeting Agenda.

The Envision Theater program at Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) is proud to present two different performances this month: the laugh-out-loud musical "Avenue Q" that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad who moves into a shabby New York apartment, and "Eurydice", a new take on "the classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice through the eyes of its heroine as she journeys to the underworld and struggles to retain her memories of her lost love." Avenue Q performances are on March 21-23 and March 28-30. Eurydice performances are on March 28-29 and April 5-6. For tickets, see the CCA Envision Tickets Page.

The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board's MAD Subcommitte will meet on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 4:30 pm at the Carmel Valley Rec Center. Download the CV MAD Agenda here. There is also a CV MAD City Staff Report that you can read. Additional information on the planning board and its subcommittees can be found at the CV Planning Board Page on this site.

The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board (CVCPB) has set Thursday, March 28, 2013 for its annual Board member election. Carmel Valley and Pacific Highlands Ranch (PHR) residents are being encouraged to run for one of eight seats up for election on the Planning Board.

The CVCPB is a group of elected volunteers who meet monthly to review and to evaluate proposed development plans and issues affecting the entire Carmel Valley and Pacific Highlands Ranch communities. Serving in an advisory capacity, the CVCPB offers specific comments, recommendations and decisions to the City of San Diego’s Department of City Planning & Community Investment, Plarming Commission and City Council. The CVCPB has direct involvement with city, county and law enforcement agencies.

The following seats are up for election on the Carmel Valley Planning Board: Residential seats for Neighborhoods 1, 3, 5, 6, and 10; 1 Business Seat; 1 Investor Seat; the PHR Residential District 11 seat, and 1 Developer seat (appointed by the Chair). The election will be immediately prior to the March board meeting, Thursday, March 28, 2013 at the Carmel Valley Library. Here's you're chance to participate in the local community! Find the CV Planning Board Neighborhood Maps Here.

Residential seats are for people who are at least 18 years old, currently living in Carmel Valley or PHR, and reside in the seat’s district. In order to be an eligible candidate in the March election, the candidate must declare his or her intention to run for the seat and submit an application. Candidates for residential seats must have attended two complete meetings of the CVCPB’s last 12 regular meetings prior to the March election.

The Carmel Valley Recreation Council will meet on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 7:00 PM at the Carmel Valley Recreation Center (3777 Townsgate Drive.) The CV Rec Council Meeting Agenda is attached here, or see the CV Parks Page for additional information on parks in the community and their operation. On the agenda are: the Gonzalez Canyon Neighborhood Park in Pacific Highlands Ranch (PHR), some requests for funds, and some other financial items. See the agenda for complete details. You can also download the Gonzalez Canyon Park Notice, and a Gonzalez Canyon Park questionnaire.

The Carmel Valley Library has a new program for preschool children who speak (or want to speak) Mandarin Chinese. There is now a Chinese circle time (storytime) every Friday from 11:40am to 12:10pm. The program is geared for preschool aged children and they will hear Mandarin and English stories as well as play games and sing songs. For more information on the library, call the CV Library at (858) 552-1668 or see the Friends of the Carmel Valley Library website at www.carmelvalleylibrary.org.

The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board will hold it's regular monthly meeting on Thursday, February 28, 2013 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at the Carmel Valley Library, 3919 Townsgate Drive. Note that this meeting is on Thursday, Feb 28, and is at its regular location, the Carmel Valley Library.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Thurs, Feb 28 date is NOT a misprint! The previously scheduled One Paseo Special Meeting on Feb 27 will be rescheduled to a later date, so the Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 meeting is CANCELED for the moment. The Feb 28 meeting will NOT have One Paseo on the Agenda.

The February Agenda is attached. The Agenda for the regular meeting includes information on a T-Mobile site at Rancho Del Sol (on Carmel Valley Road), and consideration of a speed limit change on Carmel Park Drive between Worsch and Del Mar Trails. Additional information can be found at the CV Planning Board Page on this site.

I've heard that the Carmel Valley Farmers Market is coming back with a new operator, starting Feb 28, 2013! The location is still the same, out at the east end of Del Mar Heights Road in the Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) parking lot (5951 Village Center Loop Road), with the marketing opening at 3:30 pm. And the proceeds will still benefit the CCA Foundation, so you'll continue to help fund programs while you shop. There are rumors of live music and a different selection of vendors... More information coming soon, I assume there will be a new website, facebook page, etc.

The Friends of the Carmel Valley Library will hold a Bargain Book Sale on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 from 12:30 – 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will go to buy new materials for the library and to pay for children's programs, art and music programs. The book sale will take place in the Community Room of the Library. Come and FILL A BAG WITH BOOKS FOR ONLY $2.00 at this bargain book sale and support the Carmel Valley Branch Library.

There will be a FREE workshop for the JFS "On the Go 101" program at the Carmel Valley Library, 3919 Townsgate Dr., on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 from 6:30 – 7:30pm. The program provides rides for seniors. Can you imagine how it feels when you need to get somewhere but can’t because you no longer drive? Many older adults live with the loss of independence every day. Without transportation, simple things such as medical appointments, grocery shopping or a lunch date become major life challenges. You can make a difference! Become a part of On the Go’s transportation solution by joining our Rides & Smiles® Program as a Volunteer Driver.

Benefits of Volunteering: Volunteers choose who, when and where they drive, using our convenient web-based scheduling system; Mileage reimbursement; Secondary auto insurance; and Knowing you made a difference in the quality of life of an older adult!

You do not need to be Jewish to receive services nor to become a volunteer. Join us at this fun and informative workshop and learn how easy it is to become a volunteer driver for On the Go! FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: Katey Pianko 858-637-7330, or see www.jfssd.org/onthego

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What is "Carmel Valley Now!" (cvsd.com)? We are not a government or commercial enterprise, not part of the Carmel Valley News, and not part of the Carmel Valley Planning Board. We do not accept advertising or charge for posting. This is a personal blog where I've posted Carmel Valley information since 1998!ken@cvsd.com.

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